Tipsheet: 16 Miami Dolphins notes from Day 1 at the NFL Combine

INDIANAPOLIS — A slew of Dolphins news and notes after listening to Jeff Ireland and Joe Philbin speak at the NFL Scouting Combine on Thursday morning, starting with some QB items:

1) Ireland said he and his staffers talk about the Dolphins’ plans at quarterback for next year “almost on a daily basis, especially the last couple of days.” Team sources have made it clear over the past two months that Peyton Manning is Stephen Ross’ top target, and Ireland said of his quarterback, “I don’t think it has to be a long-term solution.” But Ireland added that the Dolphins could get “both” – a short-term answer (Manning) and a long-term answer (a rookie such as Ryan Tannehill). “That’s my job, to build the team for today and the future, and Joe’s responsibility is to try to win right now.”

2) Ireland said he would consider trading for a quarterback, if that’s what it takes. We wrote last night that Matt Flynn may only be available via trade if the Packers give him the franchise tag. “Hey, we’ll use every avenue available to try to get the best player for every position,” Ireland said.

3) Ireland was asked how he evaluates a quarterback who hasn’t played much (i.e. Flynn), and joked, “Watch the tape over and over again. … But there’s not much you can do. If you like him you go get him and if you don’t, you don’t.”

4) Philbin said that finding a quarterback will be a collaborative effort. “I think it’s important that we all share a vision of how that player is going to function within the organization,” he said. “It’s important I have a voice in that, it’s important our offensive coordinator Mike Sherman has a voice in that, important that our general manager has a voice in that, and our personnel staff. Let’s face it, they spend more time learning about prospects that we do, so I think it’s important everyone has a voice in the direction we’re going to head there.”

5) But Ireland was also very complimentary of Matt Moore, who is under contract for one more year. Ireland reached out to Moore last week, and said “he’s going to be a big part of our team. … Last nine games of the season he went 6-3, and shoot, that’s pretty good.” Ireland said the Dolphins will “try to continue to help him as a player,” which includes helping him improve his footwork and his reads as a passer. Ireland didn’t say it, but it goes without saying that the Dolphins will still try to strike it big with Manning or Flynn this offseason and go with Moore only as a backup plan.

6) The Dolphins are busy putting their team together for 2012, but are also busy working on the team for 2013. We’ll have more about this in tomorrow’s newspaper, but several key players are entering the final year of their contracts next season, including Jake Long, Cameron Wake, Randy Starks, Sean Smith, Brian Hartline and Anthony Fasano. Ireland told the Post that he hopes to have some players signed to contract extensions before the 2012 season starts – deals that, if structured properly, could give the Dolphins more salary cap space for the 2012 season (they currently have about $13-14 million to play with).

7) Ireland told the Post that “there has not been a lot of conversation” between he and Paul Soliai’s agent, David Canter, but the two sides do plan on meeting this weekend at the Combine. “We’ll see where they’re at, and we’re at, and butt our heads together again probably,” Ireland said. “We like the player very much and we’ll see how things go.” Soliai made $12.476 million last year with the franchise tag, but won’t be tagged again at a $14.97 million salary. Most likely, the Dolphins will let Soliai walk away in free agency instead of paying him a big-money contract.

8) Finding a pass rusher to replace Jason Taylor is one of the Dolphins’ top priorities this year. “You never have enough of them,” he said. “I’d like to have three or four more of them if you can find them, but they’re like the quarterback position, they’re hard to find to. We got to try to find some more.”

9) Ireland said that despite having a new coaching staff, the roster won’t be overhauled this year. “I think there’s some pieces here, I think there’s a foundation built,” he said. But “Not completely – I’m not naïve to the fact that we’ve been 7-9, 7-9 and 6-10 the last three years and we’ve got to keep building the process.”

Joe Philbin will have a lot of input over the type of players he wants Jeff Ireland to acquire, especially on offense / Ben Volin, Post staff

10) Philbin will have a lot of say into what type of players Ireland acquires this offseason, especially on offense. “I’m listening to my head coach in what he’s looking for to get the right type of player that’s going to be the most productive in his offense, and we’re going to follow his lead in that,” Ireland said.

11) What has Ireland learned about Philbin in the last month since hiring him? “Well, I was kidding with him awhile ago, I’ve introduced myself to 100 people since I’ve been here,” Ireland said. “Everybody keeps saying how good of a guy he is. There’s no doubt he’s a high integrity guy, has a great vision, and just kidding with him, I hope he can coach.”

12) And what has Philbin learned about Ireland? “The meetings I was a part of in this Combine preparation phase, I thought he and his staff have obviously done a lot of research, they’ve done their homework, they’re very detailed, they’re very thorough,” he said. “Knowing that you put your head down at night thinking, ‘Jesus, this staff is prepared.'”

13) Ireland declined to talk about on-field matters, including the potential switch to a 4-3 defense. But Ireland said that talk can be over-blown sometimes, as most NFL teams use multiple variations of defenses throughout a game. “Last year we were 70 percent in a sub front,” he said. “So what difference does it make what the base front looks like?”

14) One aspect that won’t change? “We’re not looking for small players,” Ireland said. “I’m not changing that too much. We like big, strong, fast guys.”

15) Ireland also said that “the running back position may be a little bit different than what we looked at in the past.” In Green Bay, Philbin had a stable of big, physical running backs: Ryan Grant (6-1, 222), James Starks (6-2, 218) and John Kuhn (6-0, 250). Daniel Thomas fits that bill (6-1, 228), and Reggie Bush doesn’t, but Ireland said “Coach Philbin is excited to have him, has a vision for him.” Philbin said “I really liked what he did,” when Bush rushed for 1,086 yards on 5.0 yards per carry last year.

16) Philbin always attended the Combine in Green Bay, but now he’s interviewing and evaluating players in all three phases, not just on offense. “Now it’s just a little wider scope,” he said. “Instead of sitting in with 30 interviews with 30 offensive players I’m going to be sitting in 60 interviews.”